Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate

Develop the knowledge and practical skills to effectively mediate disputes. Learn conflict resolution methods applicable to a wide range of professional settings. Prepare to achieve your Qualified Mediator (Q. Med) designation.

The Role of Mediation in Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation is a popular and highly effective form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Other types of ADR include arbitration, negotiation, and facilitation.

Key features of mediation:

  • The mediator does not decide the outcome of a dispute; instead, they help parties reach mutually agreeable resolutions
  • Resolutions reached through mediation are not legally binding
  • Mediation is private, flexible, and voluntary
  • Mediation can be used to resolve a wide range of commercial and civil disputes

Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate—Overview

The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate is a 12-week online course. Complete assignments when it’s convenient for you, participate in live discussions and role plays, and receive personalized support from a dedicated instructor.

In this course, you will learn:

  • An overview and comparison of different ADR models, including arbitration, mediation, and negotiation
  • Practical techniques for resolving workplace conflicts, including coaching, negotiating, and mediating
  • How to uncover and address the root causes of conflicts
  • Procedures and techniques for conducting family mediations
  • Codes of practice and professional standards for mediators
  • How to conduct a mediation online

Mock Mediations and Role Play—Practical Training Component

The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate includes 10 hours of mandatory role play using video conferencing software.

Students simulate and work through a variety of dispute scenarios, including:

  • Workplace conflicts
  • Community-based conflicts
  • Family conflict involving spouses and children
  • Division of property and child support

Role play is a mandatory requirement for earning the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation from the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC).

Career Options in Mediation and Dispute Resolution

Mediation is used to settle a wide variety of disputes, including labour relations, business and consumer disputes, community and family conflicts.

Graduates of the Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate are qualified to: 

  • Work toward the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation 
  • Work as independent mediators, specializing in a specific industry or domain 
  • Join an ADR or mediation firm 

Pathway to Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) Designation

Kompass is a long-standing accredited education partner of ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC), a preeminent ADR professional organization.

If you are interested in earning your Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation through ADRIC, Kompass can help. Please note if you applying for your designation through a provincial affiliate of ADRIC check their website directly for any additional requirements that may apply. Click for detailed information on the Q.Med designation process through ADRIC.

Basic Mediation Training (40 hours)

  • The Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate fulfills this entire requirement. Register for the entire certificate.

Specialized Mediation and Related Training (40 hours)

  • The “Advanced Family Mediation” class (21 hours) and “Cultural Fluency in Mediation” elective class (21 hours) fulfill this entire requirement. Register for the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Bundle certificate at checkout to add these classes to your certificate schedule at a discounted rate or register for individual classes separate.

Additional Q.Med requirements (not available through Kompass)

Please contact ADRIC directly and refer to the Q.Med criteria.

  • Practical Experience: 2 supervised and assessed practice mediations, and/or two actual mediations or co-mediations where the applicant has clearly been the lead mediator1, (or one of each) paid or unpaid. Please contact ADRIC directly for more info on how to fulfill this requirement.
  • Pledge to comply with ADRIC’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, Membership to ADRIC, Annual Fees, Continuing Education and Engagement (CEE), Insurance.
Woman standing in front of table where colleagues are working

Meet one of our instructors and learn more about training and career options in mediation.

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Course Schedule and Format

Instructor-Led Format

(Synchronous Components)
Instructor-led courses follow a set class schedule with a dedicated instructor and classmates. Students can work on assignments and readings when it works best for their schedule. The instructor posts in the discussion forum and hosts live online lectures (via conference and/or video call). Students can use those opportunities to discuss assignments, industry topics, etc. with their instructor and peers.

The instructor-led format offers increased engagement and more opportunity for discussion. It requires students to complete assignments and participate in live lectures on a weekly basis.

Note: This instructor-led course requires mandatory participation in weekly role-play and mock mediation scenarios.

Live lectures (recommended) take place via video conference call on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST and role-play sessions (mandatory) are on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST. Please note that these times and days are subject to change with notice. In the event a student misses a mandatory session, alternative arrangements may be made available.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which spans facilitation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and litigation. Participants in this course will explore the history and goals of mediation, and the elements of the mediation process. This course examines the role of a mediator and delivers an overview of the skills necessary to successfully mediate.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

There are a number of options for resolving conflict that clients can choose from. The Dispute Resolution Assessment training course describes many avenues for dispute resolution and discusses the importance of understanding the range of options available for both non-adversarial and adversarial dispute resolutions. This information is crucial for assisting clients navigate the most appropriate method[s] for their particular situation.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

A rewarding and fulfilling career helping separated couples reach settlements and chart a better future for themselves and their children lies ahead for those who take part in our field-leading, cutting-edge family mediation course.

The Introduction to Family Mediation training course gives you the foundation to work in a variety of settings. You will learn to provide family dispute resolution services and interventions for families experiencing relationship conflict and going through the process of separation. The course will equip students with the knowledge and skills to mediate family disputes by understanding the fundamentals of family dispute resolution.

Topics focus on family mediation in practice. We cover screening clients for mediation, strategies for family mediation and steps in the family mediation model, and the separation of finances and property.

You will practise applying your family dispute resolution skills in a safe and professional online learning environment, learn to facilitate a family mediation, and examine and apply an ethical framework to your mediation using codes of practice and standards.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Family mediation is challenging work requiring a commitment to the development of professional skills and practice, an ability to reflect upon and enter into critical analysis of performance, and an ability to produce professional documents to tight timescales. Family mediation requires personable, articulate, and assertive individuals who have good listening skills and practical experience working with individuals and couples. The impact of separation and divorce on all people involved, including children, can be difficult. Students will learn about the impact on families and how they must be carefully approached. The Managing Family Dynamics training course will teach students about the structure, function, and roles within a family system as they relate to the family mediation setting.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

Family mediation is practiced by lawyers and non-lawyers. It is imperative that all mediators understand the legal options and issues that arise during a family separation. While mediators do not provide legal advice, it is important to be aware of the implications of support, property division, parenting decision-making authority, and parenting time. Students will learn how to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when a family mediation has concluded. Students will also learn about the importance of collaboration practice and options for a family mediation.

2 Weeks (40 hours)

In the Workplace Dispute Resolution training course, participants examine the sources and dynamics of workplace conflicts. They learn to identify the sources and dynamics of conflict in the workplace, with an emphasis on minimizing power imbalances in interpersonal workplace conflict. This course examines the impact of organizational culture on employees, diversity in the workplace, harassment policies, and the various methods of resolving workplace conflict including coaching, negotiating, and mediating with special emphasis on difficult work situations. Finally, participants evaluate conflicts, their sources, the parties, the relationships between the parties, and the legislative and regulatory environments to best implement organizational and workplace conflict management principles.

Instructors

Meet our industry-expert instructors.

Overview

START DATES
2025: May 19, June 30, August 25, October 6, November 17
TOTAL PROGRAM LENGTH
12 weeks (240 hours)
DELIVERY
Online (Instructor Led)
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT
Post-secondary education (degree or diploma) OR experience in a related field

Now Offering Specialized Mediation Training!

  1. The Advanced Family Mediation class from the Family Mediation certificate is accredited by the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) for 21 hours (40 total required) of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation.
  2. The Cultural Fluency in Mediation an elective class from the Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate is accredited by the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) for 21 hours (40 total required) of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation.

Ready to start?

Certificates and individual classes start frequently!

Accrediting Associations

 

Accreditation and Recognition

Read our guide to mediation/arbitration designations in Canada for a helpful breakdown. 

Who Should Take the Course?

Our mediation students come from diverse professional backgrounds. We work with:

  • Lawyers and individuals with a legal background
  • Non-lawyers seeking to become professional mediators
  • Business managers and HR professionals
  • Educators
  • Union representatives
  • Government officials

Admission requirements:

  • Post-secondary university degree or college diploma; OR
  • Relevant professional experience

Tuition

Mediation Individual Classes

The chart below outlines the cost of the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate classes if you choose to take them individually. Once you register for three or more classes within a certificate, you will be charged the non-refundable $200 registration fee. Individual classes must be paid in full at time of registration – click here to register for an individual class.

Mediation Certificate

A $200 non-refundable registration fee is charged when you register for an entire certificate. We offer a payment plan for tuition of three equal payments of $1,031 at week 1, week 5, and week 9, which will be automatically charged to your method of payment unless otherwise coordinated with accounting.

Mediation Certificate Bundle

If you are looking to fulfill both the basic (40 hours) and specialized (40 hours) training required for the Q.Med designation, at checkout add the Mediation and Dispute Resolution Certificate – Bundle to your cart. The bundle includes all of the courses in the Mediation and Dispute Resolution certificate, access to the Online Dispute Resolution Workshop, plus the Advanced Family Mediation class and Cultural Fluency in Mediation elective class at a discounted bundle rate. A $200 non-refundable registration fee is charged when you register  and we offer a payment plan for tuition in three equal payments of $1,381 at week 1, week 5, and week 9, which will be automatically charged to your method of payment unless otherwise coordinated with accounting. Total amount of the certificate bundled (including specialized classes), with the discount, is $4,145 + $200 reg. fee.

Kompass Alumni and Corporate Training Discounts

Students who successfully complete a certificate with Kompass are eligible for 20% off future certificates and classes. Group and employer discounts and custom corporate training options are available for three or more students.


Textbooks

*Students are responsible for purchasing these additional printed OR digital textbooks

Art and Practice of Mediation, 2nd Edition & Choices in Approaching Conflict: Understanding the Practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution Book Bundle – $113 – $168 (digital or print)

The Family Dispute Resolution Handbook, 6th Edition – $143-165 (digital or print)

Courses
Individual Cost
Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 weeks)
$515
Dispute Resolution Assessment (2 Weeks)
$515
Workplace Dispute Resolution (2 Weeks)
$520
Introduction to Family Mediation (2 Weeks)
$515
Managing Family Dynamics (2 Weeks)
$515
Family Law for Non-Lawyer Mediators (2 Weeks)
$515
Online Dispute Resolution Workshop – Mediation (4 hours )
$299